The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator ensures that all licensed activities comply with the legislative framework and licence conditions.
This is achieved through a robust regulatory framework of monitoring, investigation, compliance assurance, enforcement, and reporting obligations.
The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator Inspectors have powers to:
- Monitor licensed activities through routine inspections and oversight
- Investigate potential non-compliance when concerns or suspicions arise.
Monitoring is a proactive and scheduled activity, designed to verify that operations are being conducted safely and in accordance with licence conditions.
Investigations are targeted and reactive, initiated when there is reason to believe there is a risk to non-compliance with licence conditions.
The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator assesses compliance not only through inspections, but also by evaluating the effectiveness of the Licence Holders own monitoring and oversight programs.
A Licence Holder that is open and forthcoming about known deficiencies demonstrates maturity and alignment with nuclear safety values.
In such cases, the Regulator may take a targeted risk-managed approach to the compliance and reporting requirements.
Certain conditions, such as reporting frequency or oversight scope, may be reviewed and modified to better reflect the current phase of the licenced activity and the competence of the Licence Holder.
This mechanism is an important part of the continuous improvement feedback loop between the Regulator and the Licence Holder, ensuring that compliance and enforcement remains responsive, proportionate, and focused on achieving enduring nuclear safety outcomes.
The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator may take actions to ensure a Licence Holder meets requirements to maintain nuclear safety standards.
These actions are intended to correct and, as appropriate, address non-compliance with conditions and restrictions on their operations. Enforcement actions are made proportionate to the risk and aimed at restoring compliance and protecting the environment and public safety.
The Regulator’s enforcement process is grounded in key principles for nuclear safety and compliance, and seeks to ensure that actions are fair, targeted, and effective.
The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator enforcement framework (pictured) consists of five escalating levels that can be deployed to encourage compliance and continual improvement.
Enforcement actions can be escalated as required to compel a Licence Holder to act, or apply punitive measures for serious contraventions or in the instance that a substantial risk is posed to the nuclear safety of the environment and people.
Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator enforcement framework
